Method of making combined fender and lamp housings



P. PETERSON 2,053,204

METHOD OF MAKING COMBINED FENDER AND LAMP HOUSINGS Sept. 1, 1936.

gwuc/wto'v Pefer Peferson clam/rm Sept. 1,, 1936. PETERSQN 2,053,204

METHOD OF MAKING COMBINED FENDER AND LAMP HOUSINGS Filed Jan. '7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 wu cmkvz Pefer Pefe/"san Patented Sept. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES corporation of Ohio Claims.

This invention relates to a novel vehicle fender construction and is more particularly directed to a method of making a specially combined fender and lamp housing.

6- An object of the invention resides in the provision of a sectional fender and lamp housing wherein portions of the lamp housing are integrally formed in the several fender sections and secured together to impart a unitary appearance to the finishing structure eliminating expense, prior steps and methods used in combining separate lamp housings to the fenders and then finishing the joint.

The invention contemplates a method of forming an article of this character wherein a single weld or other union joins the sections together into a substantially unitary structure.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a fender and lamp housing, the sections of which are preferably formed, trimmed,

flanged and pierced prior to their assembly.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the ar rangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and 80 drawings of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of the front portion of an automotive vehicle showing the invention as incorporated in' a. front fender of the vehicle;

Figure 2 is a top view of the fender structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure -3 is a perspective view of the nose portion of the fender structure;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bodyportion of the fender structure;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the elements shown in Figures 3 and 4 in position to be secured together;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a fender structure showing another form of the invention;

in Figure 6; 1

Figure 8 is a front view of the fender shown in Figures 6 and '7.

Although I have illustrated the invention as incorporated for use in connection with automotive vehicles, it is to be understood that 1 con- 7 template its use wherever the same may be found to have utility.

Figure '7 is a side view of the fender shown PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF 'MAKING COMBINED FENDER AND LAMP HOUSINGS Peter Peterson. Toledo, Ohio, assignor to The City Auto Stamping Company, Toledo, Ohio, at

Application January '1, 1936, Serial sesame Referring to the drawings, I0 is a radiator enclosure or shield; 12 is an engine hood projecting rearwardly from the shield l0; and I4 is the fender structure incorporating the present invention.

Heretofore it has been the practice to make a combined fender and lamp housing by stamping out a conventional fender and then cutting an opening in the crown thereof to receive'a separately formed lamp housing. This method ne- 1U cessitates the welding of the lamp housing in the fender opening and in most cases it is necessary that the parts be blended together by filling in the joints with metal until the desired contour is obtained. Such a method involves numerous 15 operations resulting in great expense, and due to the necessity of handling the entire structure to perform the various finishing operations as well as assembly, few automobile manufacturers have used this type of fender. :0 To overcome these objections and reduce the expense of making this type of fender, the fender and lamp housing hereinafter described is formed of several sections which are secured together in an efficient inexpensive manner. As shown in 2;; Figure 1, the fender I4 is suitably secured to a convenient part of the vehicle, and includes a front or nose portion l8 projecting forwardly and downwardly to overhang a portion of the wheel 20 and its associated mechanism. The nose por-' 3o tion IB preferably embraces a part of a headlamp housing or casing 22, which may include a lens supporting projection or flange 24, as well as an integral rearwardly extending surface 26 which cooperate to form the front of the housing 22. As 35 will hereinafter appear, the nose portion 18 is formed separately from a body portion 28 which is inclusive of a crown 30, side 32, base 34 and an integrally formed portion 36 serving as the rear of the casing 22. desired contour, and the shape and area of the side 32 may be arranged to give the desired appearance to the structure.

By forming the nose portion IB as a separate unit or stamping, such portion may be handled 45 easily and the various operations to effect a. finished section performed prior to its union with the body portion 28. For example, after the section is stamped from the sheet material it may be trimmed, flanged and pierced prior to being as- 50 sembled with the body portion. Thus, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, portion I8 is provided with rear edge 40 to which is suitably secured the forward or leading edge 42 of the body portion 28 by means such as by flash or butt welding. This 55 The crown 30 may be of any 40 type of welded joint has been illustrated, but" it will be clear that any other weld or joint may be; used efl'ectiv'ely, it being only necessary to. prepare the adjoining edges so that such a joint may be employed. When a flash weld is used it is only necessary to grind oil the exterior flash of the weld to finish the surface the interior of the weld being retained to, stiffen the joint.

To accommodate securing means (not, shown) for a headlight lens, the projection 24 is formed by removing a disc-like portion of the material forming the structure to provide an opening 25, and flange 24 may be pierced or otherwise provided with suitable means to retain such a securing means. It will be readily understood that any arrangement for securing a lens as well as other lighting apparatus will be materially aiffected by the particular design of the fender structure and the type of lighting apparatus used. The angularity of the flange 24 with respect to the horizontal may be altered to suit the design of the fender or vehicle, and this may also be dependent upon the particular type of lighting arrangement.

The body portion 28 is formed with suitable edge portions 46 and 48 enabling the same to be secured to the running board 41 and frame or other support, respectively. The leading edge 42 is shaped to conform with the rear edge of the nose portion when in assembled relation and includes the casing portion 36 projecting upwardly from the crown 30.

The depending or overhanging edges 52 and 54 respectively of the body portion-and nose portion may be suitably rolled to remove anysharp edges and to give the structure aflnished appearance.

. It may also be desirable to completely enclose the lighting apparatus and this may be accomplished by securing a suitably formed member to the under surface of the fender structure and adjacent the portions 28 and 36, in which instance the lighting apparatus may be inserted through the opening 25. y

As the structure is preferably formed from sheet metal 'of the desired thickness and charac-' ter, the body and nose portions are drawn from the 'sheet material by a suitable die. The use of any suitable machinery capable of performing the stamping, drawing or forming operations is contemplated, the'sections being preferably separatelyformed, due to the fact that the required amount of material for the headlight casing portion may thus be supplied to the two sections without wrinkling or tearing the material.

Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8, it is to be noted that the form of the invention there shown is inclusive of a combined fender and lamp housing 40 formed of sections 82 and 64 and secured together along a line 66. In this arrangement each of sections 52 and 64 preferably include half of the lamp housing 8|, although it is to be understood that the joint may be arranged to the best advantage for ease in stamping or forming and assembly. Section 62 preferably includes a part of the "nose" portion til-and body portion 69, as. does section 84. Section 64 also includes a flange or edge l serving as a means to secure the structure to a portion of the vehicle, while each section is formed with a flange 12 to which may be secured the .running board of the vehicle. Section 62 includes a depending portion Hi the lower edge of which is preferably rolled as at 15 to strengthen the same as well as enhance the appearance of the completed structure.

The lamp housing sections have inturned flanged portions 18 adiacent the front thereof, which when in assembled relation, provide an opening 18, the flange 16 serving as a means to retain a suitable lighting apparatus with respect to the housing 6|. In'this form ofthe invention it will be noted that the sections may be separately formed, trimmed, flanged and pierced, but it is-understood that I also contemplate the use of a compound stamping or forming mechanism in which the sections may be formed simultaneously and then severed and the finishing operations performed prior to its final assembly. As in the case of the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to .5, this form of the invention is fabricated from several sections secured together by-any desired type of weld or other union along the cooperating edge portions of the sections.

' The method of the present invention for producing a unitary fender structure by forming the same from a plurality of sections as herein described permits the use of sheet materal of less thickness than the material prevously employed. This can be accomplished due to the fact that the material need not be subjected to exceedingly high compression pressures per square inch during the formation process, and therefore the material is not subject to greatstresses while taking the proper configuration by the action of the dies which render the fender structure unable to withstand impacts at the curved sections without being deformed, a factor has necessarily been compensated for in prior methods by using a comparatively thick material.

In addition, by using the method described in the present invention, a comparatively inexpensive fender structure can be produced by using sheet material of low cost which is possible when the sections are made from comparatively small size sheets. vFurthermore, by the method of the present invention the amount of material usedto produce the structure is reduced to a minimum as the curved portions are of less amplitude with reference to the plane of the sheet material.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure'is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A method of forming a unitary combined transversely curved fender with a lamp casing in the curved portion thereof which consists in providing a sheet metal blank; forming both the fender and lamp casing parts from said blank so that the lamp casing portion'is adjacent an edge portion of said blank; producing a welding edge thereon; providing another complementary sheet metal blank; forming another part of the fender in said' last mentioned blank; producing a welding edge thereon adapted to be joined to the welding edge of said first mentioned blank; and welding said complementary sheet 'metal blank portions to each other along said welding edges.

2 A method of forming a unitary combined curved fender with a lamp casing in the curved portion thereof whichconsists in providing a sheet metal blank of insuflicient size to form a complete combined feeder and lamp casing; forming both fender and lamp casing parts from said blank so that the lamp casing portion is adjacent an edge portion of said blank; producing a welding edge thereon; providing another complementary blank also of insufliclent size to form the combined tender and lamp casing unit; forming another part of the curved fender portion in said last mentioned blank; producing a cooperating welding edge adapted to be joined to the welding edge of said first mentioned blank; and welding said complementary sheet metal blank portions to each other along said welding edges.

3. A method of forming a unitary combined transversely curved tender with a lamp casing located at the curved portion thereof which con: sists in providing a sheet metal blank; forming a part of both the tender and lamp casing, said blank formed so that the lamp casing portion is adjacent an edge portion of said blank; producing a continuous welding edge on said blank, said edge passing through said lamp casing portion; providing another complementary sheet metal blank; forming another part of both the fender lamp casing portion thereof formed adjacent an edge portion of said blank; producing a continuous welding edge through said last mentioned sheet metal blank which passes through said headlight casing portion; and welding said complementary sheet metal blank portions to each other on said edges.

4. A method of forming a unitary combined curved fender with a lamp casing located in the curved crown portion thereof which consists in providing a sheet metal blank; forming a part of both the fender and lamp casing having a sharp draw relative to the draw of the curved fender portion, said blank formed so, that the lamp casing portion is adjacent an edge portion and another part of the headlamp casing with the of said blank; forming a continuous welding edge on said blank, said edge passing through said lamp casing portion; providing another complementary sheet metal blank; forming another part of both the fender and another part of the headlamp casing having a sharper curvature than the curvature of the fender in said last mentioned blank with the lamp casing portion thereof formed adjacent an edge portion of said blank; forming a continuous welding edge through said last mentioned sheet metal blank which passes through said headlight casing portion; and welding said complementary sheet metal blank portions to each other on said edges.

5. A method of forming a unitary combined curved fender with a lamp casing located in the curved portion thereof which consists in providing a sheet metal blank of insuflicient size to form the complete combined fender and lamp casing; forming a part of both the fender and lamp casing having a sharp draw relative to the draw of the curved fender portion, said blank formed so that the lamp casing portion is adjacent an edge portion of said blank; preparing a welding edge on said blank, providing another complementary sheet metal blank also of insufficient size for the combined lender and lamp casing; forming another fender part in said last mentioned blank; preparing a welding edge through said last mentioned sheet metal blank; welding said complementary sheet metal blank portions to each other on said edges; and removing the flash on the outside of the fender.

PETER PETERSON.

CEllTIFICATE or connscrlon.

Patent No. 2,055,204.

September 93$.

PETER PETERSON It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 70, claim 2, for "feeder" read fender; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of November, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdale l) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

form the combined tender and lamp casing unit; forming another part of the curved fender portion in said last mentioned blank; producing a cooperating welding edge adapted to be joined to the welding edge of said first mentioned blank; and welding said complementary sheet metal blank portions to each other along said welding edges.

3. A method of forming a unitary combined transversely curved tender with a lamp casing located at the curved portion thereof which con: sists in providing a sheet metal blank; forming a part of both the tender and lamp casing, said blank formed so that the lamp casing portion is adjacent an edge portion of said blank; producing a continuous welding edge on said blank, said edge passing through said lamp casing portion; providing another complementary sheet metal blank; forming another part of both the fender lamp casing portion thereof formed adjacent an edge portion of said blank; producing a continuous welding edge through said last mentioned sheet metal blank which passes through said headlight casing portion; and welding said complementary sheet metal blank portions to each other on said edges.

4. A method of forming a unitary combined curved fender with a lamp casing located in the curved crown portion thereof which consists in providing a sheet metal blank; forming a part of both the fender and lamp casing having a sharp draw relative to the draw of the curved fender portion, said blank formed so, that the lamp casing portion is adjacent an edge portion and another part of the headlamp casing with the of said blank; forming a continuous welding edge on said blank, said edge passing through said lamp casing portion; providing another complementary sheet metal blank; forming another part of both the fender and another part of the headlamp casing having a sharper curvature than the curvature of the fender in said last mentioned blank with the lamp casing portion thereof formed adjacent an edge portion of said blank; forming a continuous welding edge through said last mentioned sheet metal blank which passes through said headlight casing portion; and welding said complementary sheet metal blank portions to each other on said edges.

5. A method of forming a unitary combined curved fender with a lamp casing located in the curved portion thereof which consists in providing a sheet metal blank of insuflicient size to form the complete combined fender and lamp casing; forming a part of both the fender and lamp casing having a sharp draw relative to the draw of the curved fender portion, said blank formed so that the lamp casing portion is adjacent an edge portion of said blank; preparing a welding edge on said blank, providing another complementary sheet metal blank also of insufficient size for the combined lender and lamp casing; forming another fender part in said last mentioned blank; preparing a welding edge through said last mentioned sheet metal blank; welding said complementary sheet metal blank portions to each other on said edges; and removing the flash on the outside of the fender.

PETER PETERSON.

CEllTIFICATE or connscrlon.

Patent No. 2,055,204.

September 93$.

PETER PETERSON It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 70, claim 2, for "feeder" read fender; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of November, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdale l) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

